how annoying are bus drivers

[Castiel]

And where exactly do you suggest I go to make myself more visible while I am on the right of the bus in the middle of my overtaking manoeuvre? - he was indication left only a second earlier.

Did you have an accident?, why did the overtaking manoeuver you were doing take so long, considering that buses generally have a 2 second delay on the Handbrake and longer if the parking brake is door operated.

So just to confirm the level of intelligence of the person I am discussing this with, you think it's perfectly safe for a bus driver to flick his indicator from left to right and start pulling away all in the same moment? Just say yes so I can go to bed.

How long does it take you to overtake exactly? I simply do not beleive you.

 

[gambitt]

Did you have an accident?, why did the overtaking manoeuver you were doing take so long, considering that buses generally have a 2 second delay on the Handbrake and longer if the parking brake is door operated.

Perhaps because I wasn't tailgating the bus and it takes more than 2 seconds to overtake a bus safely? Look it up in the highway code. You see a bus indicating LEFT so you decide to overtake. First check your mirrors for traffic behind to make sure it's safe to continue, indicate, in some cases drop a gear before steering right to move into an overtaking position. All of this will take 2-3 seconds depending on the driver. The bus is a long object to overtake so another 1-2 seconds (depending on the car and driver) and you will be along side the rear of the bus on the right hand side. During this time the bus has signalled right and started moving.

I simply do not beleive you.

I don't care what you believe. Thanks for confirming your level of intelligence. I can go to bed now

 

[Castiel]

Confession time -

Back in 1976 I saw a bus indicating to pull out but decided not only was I going to overtake it but also turn left in front of it to go down the street.
As I was going past I had no chance of turning left but instead had to brake hard and was hit from behind.
Obviously I thought it was the bus but it was a car too close to me but the bus had braked hard causing 2 people to be taken to hospital
I parked up in the street that I intended to drive down and the other car parked behind me with a badly damaged front end.
The driver said he was just going to walk down the street to see if there was waste ground to put his leaking car onto.
The Cops arrived, asked where the other driver was and I ran down the street to look for him and saw him running off
I called the Cops and about 30 minutes later they came back with him but other Cops had arrived to breathalyse me.
One of the questions I was asked (and this was back in 1976) was "Did the bus indicate?" and I confirmed it did.
They then asked "Did you know if a bus indicates it is its right of way if you haven't started to overtake?" and of course I said I knew this even though I didn't.

Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that the driver behind me got blamed for everything because he was driving a stolen car and I've had to live with the guilt of putting 2 people into A&E.
You'll also be pleased to know that since that incident I have always let buses out if they are indicating and slow down if they aren't.

Unfortunately todays Driving Instructors do not seem to know that part of the highway code either, the amount of instructors with pupils who do not give way is scary.

I once had one berate me for turning left under a single lane bridge with a mini roundabout (my right of way to begin with), he didn't stop and was forced to reverse back to the sign stating Give way to Traffic from the Right, but still obstructing the road he told me I should have given way to him (Actually No I shouldn't) and that I should reverse the bus to give way to him as it is my mistake!!! (my mistake).

When I informed him that

A: it was my right of way, doubly so, pointing out the sign he had passed, and
B: that it is illegal to reverse a PCV on a public road while it is in service

He told me that I should read the highway code.

He did all this with a student in the passenger seat. Luckily a Policeman set him straight and gave him a ticket for obstruction.

 

[233]

even more annoying when they dont use designeated bus stops and just block the road off when stopping or pull out then indicate, almost as bad as those bloody taxi drivers........... oh wait

 

[Castiel]

Perhaps because I wasn't tailgating the bus and it takes more than 2 seconds to overtake a bus safely? Look it up in the highway code. You see a bus indicating LEFT so you decide to overtake. First check your mirrors for traffic behind to make sure it's safe to continue, indicate, in some cases drop a gear before steering right to move into an overtaking position. All of this will take 2-3 seconds depending on the driver. The bus is a long object to overtake so another 1-2 seconds (depending on the car and driver) and you will be along side the rear of the bus on the right hand side. During this time the bus has signalled right and started moving.




I don't care what you believe. Thanks for confirming your level of intelligence. I can go to bed now

My intellectual level would seem to be somewhat above yours considering you stated that the bus indicated left and then only a second later right, given the 2-3 seconds you took to conform to the highway code, the bus would have been indicating right for around 2 seconds prior to you initiating movement.

Even if the bus moved while you were in the middle of your maneuvre, it would simply be because the bus position hampered the view from the mirrors and you were in his blind spot. This is why you should be doubly aware of Buses or any large vehicle that you overtake in this manner.

If you were alowing a safe margin of room during the manoeurve then the Bus repositioning would not have endangered you at all.

If the Driver had indeed pulled out as you describe, I would imagine that an accident would have occurred. Did it?

 

[Castiel]

even more annoying when they dont use designeated bus stops and just block the road off when stopping or pull out then indicate, almost as bad as those bloody taxi drivers........... oh wait

Blame the council and their Hail and Ride policies.

 

[Lethal`]

even more annoying when they dont use designeated bus stops and just block the road off when stopping or pull out then indicate, almost as bad as those bloody taxi drivers........... oh wait

I saw a taxi park almost horizontal, half in a bus stop and half in the middle of the high street the other day. Now that's inconsiderate.

 

[dbmzk1]

It's like anything I guess, you get some good ones and you get some bad ones. There does seem to be a rather large amount of bad ones around here though and that's coming from someone who uses buses daily! It can be quite scary actually!

 

[AMG]

if they indincate before you overtake they have righter way, they have a big ...machine....damm spelling


unless you are half way over taking

 

[Tefal]

Boring, moany, gay car whinge threads belong in motors as not to dilute the purity of GD

Damn right, come back when your wife is leaving you for the bus driver.

 

[Infam0us]

I think Bus Drivers is a pretty cool guy. eh drives buses and doesnt afraid of anything.

 

[Cosimo]

I think Bus Drivers is a pretty cool guy.

They are all pretty cool.

 

[rypt]

Read the highway-code mate, Rule 223.

223:

Buses, coaches and trams. Give priority to these vehicles when you can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from stops. Look out for people getting off a bus or tram and crossing the road.

Except it is not a MUST DO action, but an advisory action in the HC, so legally you are under no obligation to give way to them and would not be breaking the HC if you didn't

 

[andyp]

They are all pretty cool.

Agreed

 

[Castiel]

Except it is not a MUST DO action, but an advisory action in the HC, so legally you are under no obligation to give way to them and would not be breaking the HC if you didn't

In the event of an accident the Bus would be assumed to have priority.

The Highway Code is clear on several occasion as to the priority that should be shown to HGV and PSV vehicles regarding right of way. We are not really talking about what you MUST do, but what you should do.

For example:

167

DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example

* approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road
* where the road narrows
* when approaching a school crossing patrol
* between the kerb and a bus or tram when it is at a stop
* where traffic is queuing at junctions or road works
* when you would force another road user to swerve or slow down
* at a level crossing
* when a road user is indicating right, even if you believe the signal should have been cancelled. Do not take a risk; wait for the signal to be cancelled
* stay behind if you are following a cyclist approaching a roundabout or junction, and you intend to turn left
* when a tram is standing at a kerbside tram stop and there is no clearly marked passing lane for other traffic

221

Large vehicles. These may need extra road space to turn or to deal with a hazard that you are not able to see. If you are following a large vehicle, such as a bus or articulated lorry, be aware that the driver may not be able to see you in the mirrors. Be prepared to stop and wait if it needs room or time to turn.

these are just two examples of good road manners. Giving way to emergency vehicles is also an advisory action without any specific RTA legislation, but the police would soon book you for obstruction.

Other vehicles
219

Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.

It is difficult to adhere to haed and fast rules in this regard because of differeing road conditions, but the Highway Code is still there to be followed.

 

[Castiel]

Bad driver is bad.

That said I do still hate some bus drivers - on my commuter route 4 out of 5 bus drivers are sound. There are a couple who are grumpy, jobsworth **** tards that are simply out to inconvenience you even though they see you on the same bus, at the same time at least once a week.

True enough, just like any occupation, there are some complete tools.

 

[gambitt]

I think our angelic friend is either a bus driver or has too much time on his hands over the summer holidays while he anxiously awaits his GCSE results.

 

[Freelanc3r]

I got on the bus the other day. Whipped out a £20 note (that's all I had) and he laughed at me. Money's money really. He then proceeded to clip the wing mirror off a car. Moody old git!

 

[Scania]

whats the high way code got to do with anything???

Quite a bit.


Bus drivers almost as bad as truckers.......